What if it doesn't go according to plan?
I knew this was a tough job. Or at least I thought I did.
I could be vulnerable. Putting myself and my words on paper for people to read, judge, and dissect isn't easy or comfortable, but I could take it. I was ready for the healthy amount of rejection an author encounters at every single stage of the publishing journey, from the initial agent query to the publisher submission process to getting your manuscript across the finish line to become a shiny new book in your very own hands. I'd been warned that publishing takes an eternity and would most likely be a winding road I might want to drive right off the edge of some days.
But I was sure it would happen. I was sure I would eventually have my book in my hands, even if all that was left by the end were bloody stumps because I had to claw my way through it.
Unfortunately, the universe did not get my memo about how I preferred my plan to unfold. Completely rude, I know.
The bummer of all bummers is that Jenny With a Why will not be published. After too many delays, issues, and red flags with the publisher to ignore, I made the tough choice to pull the book and shelve it. Maybe someday I'll pull it out, dust it off, rewrite it, and give it another shot. But for now, Jenny will just be the magical little story that helped to heal the heart of ten-year-old Jamie and gave me the confidence to continue on the path to becoming a published author. (I also got a hell of a playlist out of it.)
But with the bittersweet, there comes good news...
My other book The Weight of Water IS being published by Fire & Ice Publishing (a different publisher than Jenny With a Why) in October, and the process with them has been quite dreamy! Final edits were turned in last week, and the book cover reveal and release date will be announced soon. It's really happening, friends!
I can't wait for you to meet Quinn and her English mates, especially the adorable Oliver Wellington. It's been a minute since I've written a smoochy YA romance, and to say I had a delightful time writing it is an understatement.
THE WEIGHT OF WATER
The majority of Quinn Keaton’s life has been spent living in the shadow of her mother’s debilitating grief. After her brother Griffin's accidental drowning sixteen years ago, her mother retreated from the world with Quinn in tow. Water, strangers, heartache, and the unknown become possible threats to their small, safe life, so she created an insulated bubble where nothing could harm them. But now, Quinn isn't sure where her own insecurities and fears begin and where her mother's end. When an opportunity arises for Quinn to spend her senior year abroad at an English boarding school, her mother demands she turn it down and threatens to disown her if she goes. Quinn's first act of rebellion opens the door to what her life could be if she is brave enough to live it. As her world expands in England with new friends and a chance at love, Quinn wonders how she can ever go back to her previous life, even if it means letting her mother go.
The real fun is about to begin!
Stay connected with me on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to sign up for my email list to get all the essential book info first! Share with your friends and your friend's friends. If you're outside the Des Moines metro and you want to be able to pick up my book at your local independent bookstore, leave the name and location in the comments below, and I'll do my best to get it there.
Friends, I know I've said it before, but it bears repeating. Thank you for sticking with me and being patient. Thank you for asking about the status of my book and being kind when I give the ho-hum answer of "Who the hell actually knows what's happening with my book?" While you're waiting for the book to come out, pop on over to the The Weight of Water playlist and take a listen.
Happy Reading!
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